Tiger Designs New Course for Houston Project

Tiger Woods' architectural firm is designing the 18-hole course for a new residential community near Houston. Tiger Woods Design will craft the layout for Bluejack National; work is expected to start on the course this summer, with a scheduled completion date of late 2015.

The 755-acre project is being developed by Beacon Land, whose principals, Michael Abbott and Casey Paulson, backed the Diamante course in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, which Woods also designed.

Bluejack National is being built on the site of the former Blaketree National club, which involved a course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, but that's been closed since 2012. The property involves rolling terrain and woodlands dotted with natural lakes and streams.

Bluejack will be an all-new course, according to Beacon Land, not a redesign of the Blaketree layout.

Bluejack National has one of the best natural settings for golf I have seen," Woods said in a statement. "With its changes in elevation, the beautiful pines and hardwoods, Bluejack National is reminiscent of the pinelands of Georgia and the Carolinas.

"The opportunity is here to create a golf course unlike any other in the Houston area, and our goal is for it to be among the best in the nation."

"We are thrilled to have Tiger working with us to develop the golf course for Bluejack National," added Abbott, who with Paulson worked for years at golf-residential developer Discovery Land and recently formed Beacon Land in Dallas.

"He spent a lot of time getting to know the property and understanding its potential. Throughout the process it became clear that his vision for the golf course perfectly aligned with ours, and he shared our passion for bringing it to life."

Woods began his golf course design business in 2006. Since then, projects in Dubai, North Carolina and Mexico have been stalled by the poor economy. But the Diamante course is nearly completed and Woods has now set his sights on Bluejack National.

Woods said that the putting surfaces at the new course will be relatively straightforward, thus allowing higher green speeds, with surrounds kept firm and tight to promote different shot options from chipping areas. "The turf will be maintained at a single height of fairway cut, the undergrowth will be cleared and the forest floor will be covered with pine straw, making it easy to find and play wayward shots," Woods said.

Also planned for Bluejack National is a short course, also designed by Woods, which will allow different set-ups and be family-friendly.